The Eternal Love of God

The Eternal Love of God: How You
Can Know God Cares for You

By Dr. Charles Stanley

Love is a distinguishing mark of
Christians and something the Lord
commanded us to do (John
13:34-35). Jesus said we
should love others as God loves
us—selflessly, sacrificially, with
understanding and forgiveness. But
how can we love others if we’re
unsure of His love for us
personally?

When we refer to “God's love,”
we're talking about the unselfish
giving of Himself to us, which
brings about blessing in our
lives--no matter how unlovable we
might be. That says something about
the Lord’s character. His love is
not just an emotion, decision, or
action but who He is (1
John 4:8).

How can we know for certain that
God loves us?

1. He created the world
for us.

One
of the reasons I enjoy traveling out
west is because I can go into the
wilderness where I don't see
anything but what God created. He
gave us oceans and beaches,
mountains and snow, sunrises and
sunsets, full moons and new moons,
beautiful plants and animals.

Consider what an awesome sight this
world was right after God created
it, untainted by man. We tend to
forget how majestic His the earth
really is, especially when houses,
big buildings, cars, and pollution
surround us at every turn. Sometimes
spending a little time in nature is
all we need to remind us of the
Lord’s affection.

2. He chose us.

Jesus
prayed: "Father, I desire that they
also, whom You have given Me, be
with Me where I am, so that they may
see My glory which You have given
Me, for You loved Me before the
foundation of the world” (John
17:24). Scripture also
teaches that God loved us
before He ever created the earth (Eph.
1:4-5).

3. He died for us.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God
demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.” On the cross,
Jesus emptied Himself for our sake,
pouring out His love so that we
might be saved. He loved us then,
and He loves us today—regardless of
all our mistakes, sins, or
struggles.

4. He cares for us.

God
continually watches over us,
providing our needs. He protects and
guides us, and answers our prayers.
The Lord may not always work in the
time frame we expect, but if we’re
faithful to wait on Him, He will
always come through for us according
to His will. The best way to learn
about God’s deep concern for His
children is to spend time reading
Scripture and meditating on it
through prayerful interaction with
Him. If we devote ourselves to the
Lord, we will discover that He is
always caring toward us.

His Promise

God promises that He will love us
unconditionally—and won’t ever leave
or forsake us (Heb.
13:5). If God loved us
only sometimes but not
all the time, that would mean
His character, feelings, or attitude
is changeable. But our Lord never
changes.

Neither is His love contingent
upon us. Whether or not we go to
church, tithe, witness, pray enough,
and never sin, God’s affection is
always the same. You can't do
anything to deserve it, and you
can't do anything to keep Him from
loving you.

The apostle John tells us that
“God is love” (1
John 4:8). This may be a
difficult truth for our human minds
to grasp. But love is the Lord’s
very essence, and He is the source
from which all true love flows.
There are no restrictions, no
limitations, and no exceptions.
God’s care for us is absolute and
genuine, and through creation, He
has unmistakably declared that love
(Rom.
1:20). But in His most
powerful proclamation of all, He
sent His Son to die for us, so that
we could enjoy His loving presence
for all eternity.

God's Plan of Salvation

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me,” John 14:5-6

Lord, Why Can’t I Change?

Take a look in the mirror. Do you see the joy of Christ in your eyes? Or are the destructive effects of sin betrayed by your appearance? The good news is that whatever your thoughts have been in the past, God can teach you to think differently.

The Message of the Cross

The message of the cross is that the Lord is willing to save anyone who asks. Once you ask Him to forgive your sins, He instantly begins to change your life. Live every day in the assurance that you are in God’s loving hand, and that He will take care of you for all eternity.

The Eternal Love of God

God promises that He will love us unconditionally and won’t ever leave or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). If God loved us only sometimes but not all the time, that would mean His character, feelings, or attitude is changeable. But our Lord never changes. Neither is His love contingent...